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...JFF boss cites problems luring quality teams for friendlies
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sports Editor
Friday, March 20, 2009
JFF boss, Captain Horace Burrell, yesterday laid out the challenges facing the Federation as it seeks to secure top-
class friendly international games for Jamaica's senior Reggae Boyz.
BURRELL... If we don't play quality teams we'll drop in the rankings
Burrell, who returned to the helm of local football in November 2007, said it is proving extremely difficult to tie up quality opponents for the team in this FIFA World Cup qualifying year.
"Most of the quality teams that we would want to play will be involved in their World Cup qualifying matches on the FIFA dates, so it is impossible to get them," said the plain-spoken Burrell.
He said the country's failure to advance to the finals of the CONCACAF qualifiers damaged the team's attractiveness to potential opponents.
"When you fail to qualify for a World Cup, not many countries at the higher level will want to engage you at that stage... you have to at least appear inclined to qualify or else you will continue to have problems attracting top-class opposition," noted Burrell.
Earlier this week, FIFA-ranked 81st Oman of the Middle East pulled out of negotiations with the JFF for a proposed match-up on the next FIFA-sanctioned date of March 28 in the capital Muskat.
The Omanis opted to play 60th-ranked African outfit, Senegal, which means the Boyz could be idle until the next FIFA-approved dates from June 6-10.
"Despite the odds, we'll be working tirelessly to get the best available opponents... for the next date. What we'll likely get are teams that have also been eliminated, so what we'll get are lowly-placed teams; that's the situation," noted Burrell, a CONCACAF Executive Committee member.
Jamaica, ranked number 70th by FIFA, may have to turn their attention to fellow eliminated CONCACAF countries Canada, Guatemala and Panama as "teams of some quality" to ensure the Boyz as a group keep active.
Burrell, the senior vice-president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), said he is concerned with the impact the Boyz not having "strong" opponents to play will have on the nation's ranking, which recovered from an all-time low of 116th.
"Simple. If we don't play quality teams we'll see a drop in our rankings, and yes, that is of grave concern to us," he said.
Though games can be arranged around the FIFA calendar, the established fear is that clubs are unwilling to release their players during this time, which affects the lure of high-quality competition.
"None of the established teams will accept you without your top players, but without your top players you can attract minnows," Burrell said.
After winning the regional Digicel Champions Cup last December, Jamaica now turn its attention to the CONCACAF Gold Cup to be staged in an unprecedented 13 cities across the USA from July 3-26, but it is anybody's guess as to how a lack of "top quality" friendly matches will affect its preparation.
"I am not so concerned about that as the nucleus of our players ply their trade in the UK and other parts of Europe; they are in top competition... and the local-based players will be involved in the premier league," noted Burrell.
Despite the gloomy outlook for this year, Burrell said 2010 could be more fruitful in getting a better crop of opponents for friendlies.
Jamaica's only friendly international so far this year was an exciting 0-0 draw with 24th-ranked Nigeria in London on February 11.
The remaining FIFA-authorised dates for 2009
are March 28-April 1, June 6-10, August 12, September
5-9, October 10-14 and November 14-18.
BY SEAN A WILLIAMS Assistant Sports Editor
Friday, March 20, 2009
JFF boss, Captain Horace Burrell, yesterday laid out the challenges facing the Federation as it seeks to secure top-
class friendly international games for Jamaica's senior Reggae Boyz.
BURRELL... If we don't play quality teams we'll drop in the rankings
Burrell, who returned to the helm of local football in November 2007, said it is proving extremely difficult to tie up quality opponents for the team in this FIFA World Cup qualifying year.
"Most of the quality teams that we would want to play will be involved in their World Cup qualifying matches on the FIFA dates, so it is impossible to get them," said the plain-spoken Burrell.
He said the country's failure to advance to the finals of the CONCACAF qualifiers damaged the team's attractiveness to potential opponents.
"When you fail to qualify for a World Cup, not many countries at the higher level will want to engage you at that stage... you have to at least appear inclined to qualify or else you will continue to have problems attracting top-class opposition," noted Burrell.
Earlier this week, FIFA-ranked 81st Oman of the Middle East pulled out of negotiations with the JFF for a proposed match-up on the next FIFA-sanctioned date of March 28 in the capital Muskat.
The Omanis opted to play 60th-ranked African outfit, Senegal, which means the Boyz could be idle until the next FIFA-approved dates from June 6-10.
"Despite the odds, we'll be working tirelessly to get the best available opponents... for the next date. What we'll likely get are teams that have also been eliminated, so what we'll get are lowly-placed teams; that's the situation," noted Burrell, a CONCACAF Executive Committee member.
Jamaica, ranked number 70th by FIFA, may have to turn their attention to fellow eliminated CONCACAF countries Canada, Guatemala and Panama as "teams of some quality" to ensure the Boyz as a group keep active.
Burrell, the senior vice-president of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), said he is concerned with the impact the Boyz not having "strong" opponents to play will have on the nation's ranking, which recovered from an all-time low of 116th.
"Simple. If we don't play quality teams we'll see a drop in our rankings, and yes, that is of grave concern to us," he said.
Though games can be arranged around the FIFA calendar, the established fear is that clubs are unwilling to release their players during this time, which affects the lure of high-quality competition.
"None of the established teams will accept you without your top players, but without your top players you can attract minnows," Burrell said.
After winning the regional Digicel Champions Cup last December, Jamaica now turn its attention to the CONCACAF Gold Cup to be staged in an unprecedented 13 cities across the USA from July 3-26, but it is anybody's guess as to how a lack of "top quality" friendly matches will affect its preparation.
"I am not so concerned about that as the nucleus of our players ply their trade in the UK and other parts of Europe; they are in top competition... and the local-based players will be involved in the premier league," noted Burrell.
Despite the gloomy outlook for this year, Burrell said 2010 could be more fruitful in getting a better crop of opponents for friendlies.
Jamaica's only friendly international so far this year was an exciting 0-0 draw with 24th-ranked Nigeria in London on February 11.
The remaining FIFA-authorised dates for 2009
are March 28-April 1, June 6-10, August 12, September
5-9, October 10-14 and November 14-18.
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